WHEN THE WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN – This building near the Weehawken waterfront, in the Lincoln Harbor section, has worn out its use and is being demolished. It was a data center used by Paine Webber, currently UBS, which has its headquarters in another building in the same area. With computers smaller and more advanced now, the building is no longer needed. Mayor Richard Turner said the town hasn’t received word yet of what will replace the structure.

Neighbors throughout the country are invited to join forces for the 31st annual National Night Out crime prevention event on Tuesday, Aug. 5. From 6 to 10 p.m. residents in neighborhoods across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on their outside lights, and spend the evening outside with neighbors and the police.

Some local towns are hosting various community fairs and celebrations. Check out your city’s website to find out what’s happening in your neighborhood!

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and have a heightened sense of awareness.

Report: Weehawken teen pleads guilty to climbing World Trade Center

The Weehawken teen who posted photos on social media of climbing cranes and buildings in the New York area, particularly the new World Trade Center, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, NJ.com reported on Thursday.

The teen daredevil “admitted breaking a city misdemeanor law against scaling tall buildings without permission,” according to the story. “He’s expecting a sentence of 23 days of community service for his March climb, which came about a week before three extreme-skydiving enthusiasts were arrested on charges of parachuting off the skyscraper at the heart of one of the country’s most security-conscious sites.”

News of the teen’s escapade prompted the public to ask why security was not better at the site.

The boy’s lawyer did not comment. The official sentence is expected in September.

Hoboken emergency workers smash car window to save…a doll

The tragic phenomenon of parents accidentally leaving their children in cars during the summer – causing their child to die of heatstroke in a short time – has gotten a lot of publicity this year. Cars can heat up very quickly, even with open windows, so law enforcement is trying to get the word out that parents have to remember not to leave their kids in the car seat when they go to work, and they should not leave their children in the car to go shopping or for any other reason.

As of mid-July, more than 16 kids in the U.S. had already died this summer from heatstroke because they were left inside hot cars, according to a release from Jersey City Medical Center. It's not only negligent parents who do this; parents of all types – sometimes overtired, sometimes just with a lot on their mind – have forgotten their infant in a rear-facing car seat on the way to work.

An average of 38 children die per year from being left in hot cars, and any bystanders are encouraged to alert police if they see a child in a car.

Apparently, the Hoboken police are following a similar policy. A worker in town got an unexpected surprise on Wednesday when she found out that emergency workers had smashed her car window to save what they thought was a child. It was actually a life-sized doll.

According to the woman’s boss, who owns a small business in the mile-square city, the woman was working when a friend called her to tell her that her car had been broken into. When she called the police, they explained the situation.

The doll had been sitting in a seat.

“All they had to do was look in the window,” the woman’s boss, who wanted to stay anonymous, told the Hoboken Reporter on Thursday morning. “It was broad daylight. I can understand if it was the middle of the night, but it wasn't.”

The boss said that police told the woman to contact City Hall about reimbursement.

The city said on Thursday that they stand by the actions of the Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance Squad, who actually smashed the window. City Hall said that emergency services had gotten several calls from concerned residents about the supposed child trapped in the car.

Tropical Storm Bertha forming in Atlantic Ocean

The National Weather Service said on Thursday that a stormy area in the Atlantic Ocean was expected to form into Tropical Storm Bertha in the next few days. To track the storm, watch breaking news at the top of hudsonreporter.com or see http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

American Dream transformation to begin

The long-awaited facelift of the American Dream megamall in East Rutherford is finally about to begin.

The re-imagined mall will have a white and gray exterior, with work scheduled to begin imminently, according to The Record. Preparations for further construction have already begun, with four radio towers removed in April. Dirt will be hauled to the site to compact the ground until next spring.

Widely criticized as an eyesore for its current colors of dull green, blue, and earth tones, the mall, once known as Xanadu, was never completed after the original developer and then a second developer both ceased production on the project. More recently, lawsuits between new owners the Triple Five Group and the NY Giants and Jets were settled by an agreement between the involved parties, clearing the way for Triple Five to move forward. They expect to spend almost $2 billion more to complete the project, which will include an amusement park and an indoor ski slope and water park.

First Sunday-of-the-Month Bird Walk is Aug. 3

Enjoy summer nature by joining this free two-hour guided nature walk in DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst. Participants will walk around parts of the park, looking for shore birds, raptors, and other birds. The walk, sponsored by the N.J. Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) and the Bergen County Audubon Society (BCAS), starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3 outside the Meadowlands Environment Center. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. Participants will have to sign a standard liability release that is good for NJMC/BCAS events throughout the year. To RSVP, call (201) 230-4983.